Gyan sends Ghana into quarter-finals

A spectacular left-foot strike by Asamoah Gyan in extra time sent Ghana into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over the United States on Saturday.

Gyan ran onto a long ball from midfield, shrugged off two defenders and fired home a venomous shot that sees Ghana match the best previous performance by African teams at a World Cup.

The goal came after Ghana had been subjected to long periods of sustained American pressure with the teams having gone into extra time with the score tied at 1-1.

Ghana, who face Uruguay in the last eight on Friday at Soccer City in Johannesburg, are only the third African team to reach the quarters after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

The US had fought back strongly after a sluggish first half, in which they fell behind to a fifth-minute goal from Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Landon Donovan, who had been the hero of their dramatic qualification for the knockout stage in midweek, equalised just after the hour mark from the penalty spot.

German-born Boateng, who qualified to play for Ghana on the eve of the finals, stole the ball from Ricardo Clark in midfield and ran on to fire home from the edge of the area in a perfect start for Africa's last representatives at this World Cup.